[Headlines from The New York Times (page 1, above the fold) to place the letters in context of the world around them.]
EBERT YIELDS TO EXTREMIST DEMANDS
GERMANY TO HAVE ALL-SOCIALIST CABINET
RIVAL FACTIONS RAGE OVER BILLS TO LOWER RENTS
Groans, Hisses, Curses, Catcalls and Cheers Greet Speakers at Assembly Hearing.
BLOWS BARELY AVOIDED
The Windsor Hotel
Oneonta, N.Y.
B E. Swart Hotel Company, Inc.
Proprietors
March 24, 1920
My Darling:
It seemed good to hear your sweet voice over the phone but it seems like a long time to wait for a letter at Margaretville as I’ll not get over there until Friday morning. Wish I had given you Oneonta address as I'll
be back here tomorrow night again. Did not think about it when I was phoning. I met Dr. Hall in Richfield Springs this evening at supper time. He was on his way home and if I had had a letter written he would have delivered it for me. He said he would call you up on phone and tell you that he had seen me. I had another talk with him about an accredited herd [of cattle] and I am going to look into the matter. I believe it's the thing to do. If we have a lot of tubers in our herd we can get rid of them and take our loss and then we can watch out for it.
You don't know how much good it did me to get that order this morning. it was about the easiest sale I ever made. No effort at all. They plaster a lot of advertising on their calendars so there's not much incentive to sell them a deluxe calendar and they don't seem to want that kind. I think the vice president was about right and not wanting the large size xxxx. They all seemed delighted with their selection and appeared very happy to give me their order and that makes me feel happy with the sale. This order adds quite a little bit to our score and makes the distance quite a bit shorter. Hope to get second orders yet this week. The order was for $765.
You simply can't believe the snowdrifts. Elizabeth [John’s 18 year old daughter] should write this in her diary. On the way down to Richfield Springs there are snowdrifts, March 24th, higher than the trolley car. I could look out the window and couldn't see the top of the banks. At one time the drifts were three feet higher than the trolley wires and at one place the wire was under a drift for a distance of 600 feet
I asked Dr. Hughes to go down to the farm and doctor Princess’s feet. He says he can cure them. Foster says he has txxx all stopped on doctoring horses. He cured his horse after others had failed.
I wish we could start in asparagus bed down on the farm. Where are the two families going to have gardens this year? You must take these matters and with the Lloyds decide them. On my way down here I stopped in Mohawk and got an order for $17.60 and one in Ilsion for $26.25. I also got one order in Richfield for $371.80. This makes me a good day. Add it up. You might tell mother for I think it pleases her to call her up and let her know these things. I am very happy tonight. Are you? Guess this is to make your statement the other day true. I won't say again that I've never had $1000 day. Must get to bed right away.
Your loving John
Don't fail to have a good letter for me in Downsville for Sunday. Also the[Earlville] Standard
Editor's notes
“Tuber” seems to refer to Bovine Tuberculosis.
John mentioning that the Dr. would call Sue reminds me how expensive long distance calls were and how we all tried to avoid them up until the mid-1970s, in favor of a local one.
Comments